Always and Forever

The Gad(d)about blog wrote about his secular music selection and asked people’s feedback to criticism he received to listening to ungodly music. I guess I have a mixed response.

I agree that it is legalistic to say that a Christian can only listen to Christian branded music. As if that would keep us for God. If that were the case, I wonder if that only limits us to music by professing Christians? If so then Jessica Simpson and R Kelly are in. I don€™t want my daughter around either one.

Only Christian branded music? Then non-edifying, Christian pop is ok but edifying songs by Christian secular artists are not.

Only worship music? (I would have to assume that this would mean only music by people who are willing to sign a statement of faith that exactly matches me and my denomination so that “false doctrine” does not pollute me)

I only buy Cd’s of worship music that is recorded live at a service. To me, anything short of that is nothing more than entertainment. My collection consists of the likes of Donnie McClurkin, Robin Mark, TACF worship team, Hillsongs and the like.

I grew up on R&B and Rap. After getting saved in college, I threw my collection of over a hundred Cd’s in the dumpster and I have never regretted it. The truth is that the majority of pop music is based on either lust, anger, or depression. Apparently, there is very little else to write about. I hear much of this same complaining in some gospel music and I avoid those artists.

But there is a strange phenomenon. For some reason, it seems that secular music loses its power with time. Music that was derided in the 80€™s, may now be played in a church outreach. Funny how that happens. My wife and I are always a sucker for Heatwave€™s €œAlways and Forever.€ We even had it as our wedding song. Of course, the dance floor was empty because our friends were to holy to dance to worldly music.

But I must admit that I channel surf in the car from time to time though I generally have to change the channel when I begin to understand the lyrics (but sometimes I don€™t. Don€™t tell my friends.). I miss the beats and grooves from the music that I grew up on. I still can€™t help but nod my head to a Bootsy Collins bass line. I have lamented in the past that there is no Christian music with the same feel, but I later realized that Christian music with the same feel is of the same spirit, and that is what I am trying to avoid.

I did keep one CD from destruction, Parliament’s Greatest Hits. I began playing Flashlight before even ending this article. My kids think I am nuts.

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